We entered Japan through Osaka (Kansai Airport). A ticket to Kansai Airport from Manila (NAIA) is about a few thousand pesos cheaper than a ticket to Narita (we got ours for around Php25000 through Phil Airlines or PAL), including taxes already. So you might want to consider flying there instead. It's also easier to book a ticket and hotel.
Osaka is part of the Kansai region. In the Kansai region, you have many interesting cities that are only about an hour away from each other. These cities are Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. Hiroshima is a little bit further away.
From Kansai Airport to Osaka
Osaka
If you're looking to eat well, watch Japan's most interesting bands, and visit a few penguins while you're at it, Osaka is the place to be. Japan's second largest city is known as an excellent place to eat. Be sure to try the okonomiyaki and takoyaki. It is also the city where most of the country's comedians and musicians come from and is home to Kaiyukan, one of the world's largest aquariums.
right outside our Ryokan (traditional inn)
We stayed in a Ryokan and this is our humble room (very Japanese!, right?). The owner used to work with Filipino seamen and so he is very friendly towards us.
Yay! drinking my green tea in lotus position ;)
Kaiyukan Aquarium
the biggest ferris wheel
Penguins outdoors!
fishes in the aquarium
Shark!
Shark's egg?
jelly fish
Other places worthy of visit are Universal Studios, the hip Amemura district, shopping at Namba Parks, and Umeda Sky Building.
Osaka mall
Osaka is an industrial city where most factories and manufacturing houses are. They say it's the nation's commercial district and Japan's "gourmet kitchen" or food capital. True enough, there were shopping malls in every corner and bargains everywhere!!! We stayed there for a few days and headed to Kyoto, which is just 30 mins away by train.
This guy helped us find our way through Japan's huge and confusing railway system!He doesn't speak English well but we got by through hand signals and Nunu's "little" Japanese =P
Japanese MRT!
Next: Off to KYOTO (our favorite city in Japan)
